HB 1712 Summary

• Political parties must pay back the full cost of their closed primary and runoff primary elections held in the next two calendar years to hold closed primaries, rather than being limited only to party members.

• State party chairpersons must notify the Secretary of the State Election Board between November 1-30 of every odd-numbered year whether the party intends to permit Independent voters or other registered voters to participate in primaries; failure to notify results in closed primaries by default.

• If one party notifies the board of intent to hold open primaries, the notification deadline for other parties extends to December 15 to allow them to respond or change prior notifications.

• Independent voters are prohibited from voting in primary elections of more than one party in the same election cycle.

• The act becomes effective November 1, 2025.